Infrared Sauna Health Benefits

Stress is one of the most detrimental factors to our overall health. A session in the Better Living Centre far infrared sauna is the perfect way to relax and let life’s pressures melt away in the soothing warmth. Far infrared sauna therapy has been shown to promote a rebalancing of the body’s hormones through its effect on the autonomic nervous system, reducing the negative physical impact of stress on the body. A far infrared sauna session helps to truly rebalance both the mind and body. Stress is being recognized as one of the leading factors in disease. When the body is stressed, chemical changes occur within it resulting in unbalanced hormone levels. This can lead to major problems for those people who do not learn to control or minimize their stress levels. Far infrared sauna therapy can be a perfect addition to any stress relief and management program.

Far infrared sauna therapy has become the treatment protocol of choice for many detoxification programs. The analysis of far infrared sauna produced sweat shows that is made up of 80 to 85% water, the remaining 15 to 20% contains sodium, other trace minerals, fat soluble toxins, sulphuric acid, uric acid, ammonia, cholesterol and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury (This is up to 6 times the amount of toxins and heavy metals found in traditional sweat). These toxins are most concentrated just under the skin in the subcutaneous layer of the body and are associated with numerous health problems.

Increase your Sweat

A simple way to increase sweat production is to exercise until you break into a sweat, or you can use far infrared sauna therapy (FIRT). Far infrared sauna therapy is a far more effective method of removing these toxins because its effect is concentrated on the subcutaneous tissue layer. It is an easy and safe method of increasing the subcutaneous and core temperature of the body, which will cause you to sweat and to detoxify the body.

Mobilize Toxins from Fat Cells

By its direct heating effects on the body, far infrared sauna therapy mobilizes toxins from our fat cells where they are stored, increases circulation, and thus aids in elimination of these toxins through perspiration. 30-50% of the population does not adequately perspire, thus not effectively mobilizing and eliminating the toxins in their bodies which they are exposed to each day. Far infrared sauna therapy improves functioning of the temperature-regulating parts of our brains. This increases perspiration, and removes perspiration-interfering products to further stimulate excretion of toxins from our body.

Sweating away those calories, slimming that waist line and helping with weight loss has never been easier than relaxing in the Better Living Centre infrared sauna. There is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate while using an infrared sauna.

Because our body expends energy to produce sweat (1g sweat requires 0.586 kcal), this means that your body can safely burn up to 300 to 500 calories in just one 40 minute session; with sweat loss equivalent to running 10-15km. As an added benefit, your basal metabolic rate rises meaning you will burn calories at an elevated rate for hours after your session has finished. This can translate to a benefit of up to 800 calories from a single session.

It can also lead to weight loss through:

• Effectively reducing heavy metals which have been directly related to metabolic imbalances in the body causing poor digestion and weight gain.
• It decreases fat stored (lipophilic) toxins. Often weight loss cannot be accomplished unless these toxins are first removed.

With all that said, engaging in 40 minutes of exercise at least 3-5 times per week and eating a well-balanced diet is still part of a healthy lifestyle and should not be solely replaced by using a Far Infrared Sauna for weight loss.

In the Better Living Centre infrared sauna, the deep heat helps blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen rich blood to oxygen depleted muscles, so they recover faster. Worldwide, radiant heat therapy is widely used to treat patients suffering from many forms of arthritis. Far infrared therapy has been effective in providing pain relief to those suffering from back pain, sprains, strains, bursitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, headache, and many other muscular-skeletal ailments. Much of the stiffness and soreness that comes with aging is reduced or eliminated in the far infrared saunas.

Athritis

Infrared sauna therapy has shown to produce great results for patients suffering from arthritis. This chronic debilitating disease comes in over 100 different forms and affects people from all walks of life. Arthritis sufferers typically find pain in joints due to inflammation and lack of fluidity. Far infrared sauna therapy helps arthritis sufferers by promoting immense amounts of fresh blood flow into starved areas and brings with it much needed nutrients. Most patients who utilize far infrared sauna therapy will notice pain relief immediately or within a few sessions in the far infrared saunas. Arthritis effects people in all age groups, but over half of those suffering are under the age of 65. Most arthritis sufferers find relief only through medication which ends up being increased over time as the body becomes more resistant to the drugs. Far infrared sauna therapy is a safe, proven, natural method of promoting pain relief from arthritis and many other muscular skeletal ailments. Instead of relying on increasing medication, the patient is able to naturally reduce pain caused by arthritis without the harmful side effects seen with chronic exposure to pain medication.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can be a strange and mysterious disease that is very difficult to treat effectively with conventional medicine. Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disorder characterized by chronic achy muscular pain that has no obvious physical cause. The most distinctive feature of fibromyalgia is the existence of certain “tender or trigger points” —-eighteen specific spots where the muscles are abnormally tender to the touch. The eighteen points tend to cluster in the base of the skull, neck, shoulders, upper back, chest, knees, elbows, hips and pelvis. Most people describe the pain as being burning, throbbing stabbing, shooting or constant like a toothache. This pain leads to the chronic stiffness and decreased range of motion in the affected muscle groups.

Far infrared sauna therapy has shown to help with the pain associated with fibromyalgia due to four main reasons:

1. DETOXIFICATION – the far infrared sauna therapy creates a full body detox. This process causes an increase in overall health, vitality and resistance to disease as the toxins contained in your organs and muscles are swept away. It has been proven incredibly useful for anyone suffering from fibromyalgia. The gentle far infrared sauna heat penetrates the body up to two inches, opening the pores deeply to create a deep detox sweat.
2. IMMUNE SYSTEM INCREASE – the heat from the far infrared saunas causes an increase in body temperature inducing an artificial fever, which in turn stimulates the immune system to wake up and become more active. This helps to lessen the chance of contracting infectious illness in people with fibromyalgia.
3. HEART HEALTH – as your body heats up from the far infrared sauna, the cardiovascular system becomes dilated which causes an increased blood flow to the surface of the body. The heart works harder to pump blood to boost the circulation which mimics a cardiovascular workout. Your heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase, while diastolic blood pressure drops. This has been shown to decrease heart palpitations linked to the fibromyalgia.
4. RELAXATION AND STRESS RELIEF – Very important when healing fibromyalgia. Stress is one of the most detrimental factors on our overall health, especially where this disease is concerned. Far infrared sauna heat is a gentle, healing heat that allows you to relax and unwind.

Back Pain and Sauna Therapy

The majority of the population will suffer from back pain. 80% of the people will have some form of back pain at some point in their life. What is needed to correct that problem is finding out why they have the back pain in the first place. Most often it’s because of lack of movement within the articular structures within the muscles around the back. Far infrared sauna therapy gives us a number of options to utilize. It helps reduce the pain by producing endorphins and also relaxes the muscles that are contributing to the pain. When back pain exists you will typically find the muscles will contract to protect the back which actually compounds the problem. If we can get the muscles to relax and reduce the inflammation using natural anti-inflammatories and natural endorphins which are produced from far infrared sauna therapy then the person will respond much quicker.

During far infrared sauna therapy the back is being relaxed, resulting in the body feeling decreased pain and people are able to modulate the intensity without increasing medication. This increased heating through far infrared saunas and the particular wavelength that is used helps to stimulate blood flow in these areas and provide a lot of localized pain relief. Since far infrared sauna therapy increases blood circulation it helps to release inflammation that is present and increases fluidity in the joints. Far infrared sauna therapy is an excellent addition to any back pain program.

Injuries

Far Infrared Sauna therapy has gained immense esteem with weekend warriors and professional athletes alike. Far infrared sauna therapy has the unique ability to speed up and improve the healing process of many injuries including joint and muscle pain, back pain, scarring, colds and flues as well as a host of other conditions. Far infrared sauna therapy penetrates the skin up to two inches and causes increased blood flow and vasodilation. In the healing process, and specifically during the sub-acute stage where we see new growth of connective tissue and capillaries that help repair damaged structures, far infrared sauna therapy works very well. Scar tissue also continues to grow during this time and is minimized by using the far infrared saunas. Far Infrared therapy helps promote rebuilding of injured tissue by having a positive effect on the fibroblasts (connective tissue cells necessary for the repair of injury). Furthermore, it increases growth of cells, DNA synthesis, and protein synthesis, all necessary during tissue repair and regeneration. Far infrared sauna therapy also expands capillaries which stimulate increased blood flow, regeneration, circulation and oxygenation. The chronic stage follows in which scar tissue is remodeled by the stresses placed on it. During this stage the deep heat of far infrared sauna therapy helps blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen rich blood to oxygen depleted muscles, so they recover faster. All in all, far infrared sauna therapy is an excellent addition to any muscle and joint rehabilitation program.

Overall health and fitness must include flexibility as a very high priority. The Better Living Centre sauna is a perfect place to work on increasing your flexibility. Studies have shown that a warm muscle stretches far better than a cold one and retains the elasticity. Many of our patients obtain better results from a relaxing session in the far Infrared sauna prior to their chiropractic visits.

Far infrared sauna therapy has been used successfully to support and treat cardiovascular diseases and has been studied in many leading medical journals.

In a 2009 study from the Journal of Cardiology, researchers studied how far infrared sauna treatments could help patients with arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Over thirty patients who had been monitored with 24-hour Holter monitors where randomized into groups. Those who received two weeks of daily, fifteen minute treatments with far infrared sauna therapy had a substantial decrease in abnormal heart rates over a monitored 24-hour period.

In a 2001 study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, far infrared sauna therapy was studied to evaluate if it improved endothelial (the thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels) function in patients with coronary risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and in smokers. Twenty five men with these risk factors had a substantial improvement in vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), reducing turbulence in the blood vessels and allowing blood to be pumped farther. This study showed that far infrared therapy can be beneficial for patients who have an increased risk for atherosclerosis. There are numerous studies that have been published that show that using far infrared sauna therapy can be a successful and supportive therapy for patients who are currently faced with cardiovascular disease. From a preventative point of view, using far infrared sauna therapy can be a pro-active, safe and enjoyable way to decrease risk factors for stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis. For those people who are undergoing care for cardiovascular conditions, far infrared sauna has been clinically shown to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Far infrared sauna therapy works in many ways to help strengthen a weakened immune system.

1. Firstly, the gentle warmth created from the heat of the far infrared saunas raises the internal body temperature which in turn mimics a type of artificial fever. This stimulates the body’s immune system to turn on and get busy producing more of the different body defense cells that can be used to combat any foreign invaders.
2. Secondly, far infrared sauna therapy stimulates full detoxification of the body. Detoxification can be defined as “the process of reducing the build-up of various poisonous substances in the body”. Because the far infrared sauna wavelength penetrates the entire surface of the body up to two inches, a thorough cleansing can take place. The United States Centre for Disease Control estimates that over 80% of all illnesses have environmental and lifestyle causes. Remember to drink lots of water throughout the day, especially before and after your far infrared sauna session to help with the detox flushing.
3. A third, and also very important aspect of immune system health that far infrared sauna therapy works with, is creating Relaxation and Stress Relief. As we all know, stress, either acute or chronic ,plays a major role in diminishing our immune system function as it causes chemical and hormonal imbalances to occur. The soothing heat generated from the far infrared sauna therapy creates total relaxation and decreased stress levels. Research has shown that continuous far infrared sauna therapy promotes a rebalancing of the body’s hormones through its effect on the autonomic nervous system.

How well you sleep and how much energy you have during the day, go hand in hand. Technology, which is designed to make our life easier, has actually created a society that is chronically fatigued. We are not only referring to patients that suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but also to a society where the majority of the people suffer from sleep deprivation.

The human body is affected by regular cycles, like moon phases, tides or even the female menstrual cycle. There is another cycle most people are not aware of called the Circadian Cycle, which affects the body’s sleep patterns every 24 hours. The Circadian Cycle is what tells the body when it should rest, and that is in early afternoon (the siesta) and late evening.

Modern life, with artificial lighting, caffeine and sugar, allows us to circumvent this natural sleep pattern. When this happens, then the quality of sleep decreases. There are two cycles of sleep; the body first goes in to a light sleep phase, and if it not disturbed, will enter the REM phase of sleep, which is essentially a more therapeutic sleep. During this time, the body heals itself and the individual will awaken felling refreshed.

In studies it has been found that a short time after being exposed to sleep deprivation, a prisoner will experience psychological pain in the form of depression, unbearable fatigue and mental disorientation.

Look at the proliferation of energy drinks. Energy is like money. You only have so much, and if you use too much one day, you’ll have to pay it back the next. There is no energy bar that I am aware of that is not just a temporary fix. You have to replenish your energy by getting a better quality and longer sleep. If you wish to have more energy, you have to find ways of getting quality sleep. Taking medication will not help to achieve this goal.

Many people cannot get a good night’s sleep because of slow changes that occur over years from high stress levels which lead to musculoskeletal pain, back pain, leg pain or restless leg syndrome. People who have disturbed sleep patterns are pretty easy to recognize; they often complain of feeling tired (even on rising), they are the ones looking for coffee, sugar or donuts to give them more energy, and their mental acuity may be diminished.

Far Infrared Sauna Therapy can help you to train yourself to get a better night’s sleep. The first thing you should do is relax and prepare yourself for sleep. Far Infrared Sauna Therapy causes the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural opiates or pain killers. This will reduce your pain, relax your muscles and make you feel more comfortable.

It also helps to reduce swelling. Many people can go to sleep, but are later awakened by pain. This occurs when they lie down and the gravitational stress on joints is removed from the body. The lessened body weight can allow the joints to swell, which is what produces the pain. Far Infrared sauna therapy helps to increase the circulation in your body, and this helps to remove toxins like caffeine and sugar from your system. This improves the function of your immune system, making you healthier and resulting in better sleep.

Conversely, when sauna therapy is used in the morning or throughout the day, the release of those same endorphins causes a boost in energy. This is a very common, almost universally reported side effect to morning use of far infrared therapy.

Here are some additional tips to help improve your sleep:

• Make sure you have a quiet sleep area where you will not be disturbed.
• Avoid eating late at night and decrease sugar intake.
• Try to have some quiet time before retiring.
• Try to decrease stress levels. If you consume energy drinks or coffee, decrease their consumption in the early afternoon and avoid drinking later in the day.
• Try incorporating Far Infrared Sauna Therapy into your routine.